Liverpool, Rangers and Celtic were among those cursing yesterday after potentially dangerous draws in the third and final Champions League qualifying round but Arsenal's path to the competition's lucrative group stage appears relatively straightforward after they were paired with Sparta Prague, a team they have never failed to beat in four attempts.

Liverpool will take on the French side Toulouse, who finished third in Ligue 1 last season, while Rangers, provided they can overcome FK Zeta in the second leg of their second-round tie, following their 2-0 win at Ibrox this week, face either Crvena Zvezda (formerly known as Red Star Belgrade) or the Estonian champions, Levadia. Celtic have been given the most difficult assignment, with Gordon Strachan's side pitted against Spartak Moscow, the current Russian league leaders, who also play on an plastic surface.

Arsenal have most cause to be optimistic, their meeting with Sparta Prague evoking memories of the four comfortable victories Arsène Wenger's side have enjoyed against the Czech side in their previous meetings. The Gunners, who will be away in the first leg on August 14 or 15, triumphed in 2000 in both group games and repeated the feat two seasons ago as Thierry Henry memorably scored in the Czech capital to break Ian Wright's Arsenal goalscoring record.

Progress through the group stage on that occasion culminated in Wenger's side reaching the Champions League final although with Henry now departed to Barcelona, Arsenal fans might have lower ambitions for the new campaign. Nonetheless, Sparta, despite securing their eighth domestic title since the break-up of the old Czechoslovakia, ought to be overcome.

"The Champions League qualifier is the most important game of the season right now," admitted Cesc Fábregas. "Not getting into the Champions League would be a disaster for Arsenal, definitely. We have to be there because, if we aren't, the season will not be the same." Arsenal board members with an eye on the accounts will no doubt share those sentiments, with the possibility of missing out on joining Manchester United and Chelsea in the group stage unthinkable.

Liverpool's owners will be harbouring similar thoughts after a summer of heavy investment but Toulouse, who will be their 100th different European opponents, present a demanding test at this stage. The French city might be more synonymous with rugby than football but under Elie Baup's tutelage the landscape is changing. The Toulouse coach claimed before the draw he would relish a meeting with Liverpool and his wish was duly granted. Rafael Benítez would no doubt have preferred something else.

The Liverpool manager, whose side travel to the Stade Municipal for the first leg, will be fully aware of the French side's threat. Johan Elmander, the striker whose hat-trick on the final day of the season catapulted Toulouse from sixth to third place, was the subject of a bid from the French champions, Lyon, during the summer and there has also been interest from Premiership clubs, including Manchester City.

But as five-time European Cup winners and runners-up last season Liverpool should start as strong favourites. "It is fantastic to be playing the finalist of last year's Champions League, even if it is a shame that the first match is in Toulouse," said Baup, Toulouse's coach, who will watch Liverpool in Rotterdam this weekend. "We are going to experience a legendary stadium. We haven't much chance of qualifying but we will do everything to cause an upset."

Celtic, meanwhile, must get to grips with a high-flying Spartak Moscow side that has already played 18 league games this season. "It's a tough one," admitted Strachan. "I think when all the clubs were looking at the draw and where they wanted to go, they wouldn't have been plumping for Moscow. That's for a couple of reasons, because they are a good side and they play on an Astroturf pitch, which is something else to contend with."

The first round of the Uefa Cup, where Blackburn will feature if they can defeat the Finnish side MyPa in the second qualifying round of the competition, is the consolation prize for those teams defeated at this stage of the Champions League.

Toulouse, demoted to the third division only four years ago, were awarded two extra points following an abandoned match at Nantes last season and pilfered third place on the final day with a last-minute goal, finishing 23 points behind Lyon. Fodé Mansaré and André-Pierre Gignac are impressive up front. Key player: Johan Elmander - a target for Lyon and Manchester City.

Spartak Moscow

v Celtic

1st leg Moscow August 14/15 2nd leg Glasgow August 28/29

Currently top of the league after 18 matches, they accumulated only five points in the group stage last season. Yegor Titov, banned for a year for a positive drug test after the Euro 2004 play-off against Wales, is the top scorer this season with eight goals. Key player: Alexander Prudnikov - recently watched by Chelsea's sporting director, Frank Arnesen, who said he was "the best player on the pitch".

Sparta Prague

v Arsenal

1st leg Prague August 14 or 15 2nd leg London August 28 or 29

The Czech champions did domestic double last season, securing their 33rd title. Have struggled in Europe, though, with their most recent Champions League campaign, in 2005-06, ending in ignominy as they collected a miserable two points. Key player: Tomas Repka - the former West Ham United defender, who left Upton Park in January 2006, is an uncompromising competitor.

Red Star or Levadia

v Rangers or Zeta

1st leg to be decided August 14 or 15 2nd leg to be decided August 28 or 29

Red Star Belgrade, the league champions and domestic cup winners defeated Marseille on penalties to win the European Cup in 1991. Current squad includes a number of South American players. Key player: Franklin Salas - 26-year-old Ecuadorian, who missed World Cup with injury, has a powerful shot and enjoys running at defenders.

Levadia or Red Star

v Rangers or Zeta

1st leg to be decided Aug 14 or 15 2nd leg to be decided Aug 28 or 29

Last season Levadia became the first club from Estonia to progress past the qualifying stages in European competition when they defeated the Dutch club Twente to reach the Uefa Cup first round before succumbing to Newcastle United. Key player: Nikita Andreev - 18-year-old Russian who attracted interest from top clubs in his homeland.